SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –
Ismael Orozco matched his career high with four RBI for the Rogers State baseball team, but it was not enough to overcome Drury in a 6-5 loss Tuesday at Meador Park.
The junior hit a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth as the Hillcats attempted a late rally only to fall one run short in non-conference action.
Chris Miguel drew a two-out walk to start the comeback bid before stealing second base and scoring on Orozco's fifth round-tripper of the season.
The Panthers struck for the opening run in the bottom of the first tallying three-straight hits for the 1-0 edge.
The margin was quickly erased in the top of the third as
Jordan Garr led the frame launching his first home run as a Hillcat into left field evening the score 1-1.
Drury posted the next two runs of the contest on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and after a rain delay forced a halt to the action for an extended period, scored again in the fifth. An RBI groundout for the Panthers in the sixth moved the advantage to three, 4-1.
The Hillcats battled back getting a two-out, two-run single off the bat of Orozco in the top of the seventh. The San Francisco, California native plated
Garrett Hall and
Colton Crocker from scoring position after the runners recorded hits earlier in the inning. The rally showed promise to continue with the bases loaded, but RSU was limited to the two runs to make it a 4-3 score.
The Panthers regained a three-run cushion, 6-3, hitting a lead-off home run in the bottom half of the seventh and added their second home run of the game starting the eighth.
The insurance runs proved critical as RSU put the potential tying run to the plate in the ninth following Orozco's home run. Orozco took over the team RBI lead with his effort on the road and now has 34 on the year. Crocker finished the game adding a team-high three hits at the top of the order as RSU totaled 11 hits in the game.
The Hillcats (23-20 overall) play their final non-conference game of the 2016 season at the Diamond Sports Complex April 27 hosting Bacone at 1 p.m.
